I have had numerous Hitecs fail when on the test bench and the output arm not connected to anything. Just how "don't push them too hard" do I have to be with them? I have had 225s shred their gears on the test bench. I bought 4 of Hitec digitals and 3 of them went berserk within 2 minutes, on the test bench.
Wow!! If I had that kind of luck with anything I'd definately not have anything to do with it. I notice that you're located in the United Kingdom. I'm not familiar with the radio systems there. What receiver battery packs do you run? Is it the typical 4.8v and 6v systems?
I've used hitecs now for a # of years, I have them in my kangaroo with jetcat P120, comp arf 40%, aeroworks 39%, Comp arf 2.6m, 2 H9 33% sukhois, 1 H9 33% cap 232, 1 H9 33% extra and many, many more. I've had NO hitec servo failures that were not a result of my doing, had 1 burn up after a wreck!!! With the odds that you've had I should have had 30-40 failures, whew!!!! I'm glad I'm having good luck I guess!!!!
Jon